Adverbs of degree
An adverb of degree informs us as to the measure or extent to which a verb may occur; OR An adverb of degree refers to the extent or degree to which something takes place. It can only modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb is what it is typically used for. Some of which are very, quite, too, almost, and extremely. For instance:
- She is very happy.
- He runs quite fast.
- The soup is too hot.
In every single example mentioned above, you will see that the adverb of degree provides additional information regarding the extent of the action being described or the degree of the description.
Common Adverbs of Degree:
VeryTooQuiteExtremelyAlmostEnoughHardlyJustSoBarelyFairlyNearlyAbsolutelyCompletelyTotallyHow to Use Adverbs of Degree?
| Adverb | Modifying | Example |
|---|
| extremely | adjective | The water was extremely cold. |
| quite | adjective | The movie is quite interesting. |
| just | verb | He was just leaving. |
| almost | verb | She has almost finished. |
| very | adverb | She is running very fast. |
| too | adverb | You are walking too slowly. |
| enough | adverb | You are running fast enough. |
Use of "enough"
Enough as an adverb that has the sense of getting to the required level or extent follows immediately the adjective or another adverb it qualifies, rather than preceding it as most adverbs do. Both in affirmative and negative contextual sentences it can be used. For Example:
She has enough money to buy the dress.He is strong enough to lift the box.The soup is hot enough to eat.You walked quickly enough to catch the bus.Is this information clear enough for you?
Enough can be followed by 'for someone' or 'for something' to indicate who or what it applies to.
This jacket is big enough for me.Is there enough food for everyone?She saved enough money for a new car.
Enough is followed by ‘to’ + the infinitive. For Example:
She is smart enough to solve the puzzle.He has enough time to finish his homework.They were brave enough to speak in front of the crowd.The car is fast enough to win the race.
Enough as a determiner:
We have enough time.She brought enough food.There’s enough space.Use of "too"
"Too" is used to indicate excess or more than is necessary. Here are examples:
- It's too hot outside.
- He ate too much.
- The bag is too heavy.
Too meaning "also"
"Too" can also mean "also" or "in addition." Here are examples:
I want to go too.She likes pizza too.They were invited too.
Too meaning "excessively"
As an adverb of manner, in its evolution to this function, and in particular in its current capacity to mean ‘too ’ as in ‘too large’ or ‘too efficiently’ it modifies the place before the adjective or another adverb. It can be used in an affirmative and in a negative form of the sentence.
The word Too when used means beyond a certain limit which is undesirable. Examples:
- It's too cold to swim.
- She’s driving too fast.
- The shoes are too tight.
Too is often followed by "to" + the infinitive to show that something cannot happen because of an excessive amount. Examples:
- It’s too late to call her.
- The box is too heavy to lift.
- He’s too tired to continue.
Too can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something" to indicate that something is excessive in relation to a person or thing. Examples:
- This dress is too small for me.
- The task is too difficult for the students.
- It's too loud for the baby.
Use of "very"
"Very" is used to emphasize the degree of an adjective or adverb. Here are examples:
- She is very tall.
- The movie was very interesting.
- He runs very quickly.
To make a negative form of an adjective or adverb we add ‘not’ to the verb, use an adjective or an adverb of the opposite meaning or use ‘not very’ with the same adverb or adjective. Lliteral connotations of the phrases are not the same. Most of the time the phrase with “not very” is much less explicit as to to be polite as the other phrases.
Difference in meaning between 'very' and 'too':
Literally the usage of the words “too” and “very” is far from being the same. “Very” states or put it this way while “too” indicate there is an issue.
Other adverbs which are used like ‘very’
These are similar to “very,” and they are used to increase the manner of an adjective or adverb.
Expressing Very Strong Feelings
- Extremely
- Incredibly
- Absolutely
Expressing Strong Feelings
Expressing Somewhat Doubtful Feelings
- Somewhat
- Relatively
- Possibly
Example of Adverbs od Degree in Sentences:
She is extremely tired after the trip.The water is too cold to swim in.He is quite confident about his presentation.I am almost finished with the project.She was very happy with the results.It’s barely visible from here.They are fairly certain about the decision.The movie was incredibly exciting.I am somewhat interested in the topic.He works really hard to achieve his goals.Why is it Important to Learn About Adverbs of Degree?
It is necessary to learn about adverbs of degree since they indicate the extent of an action, emotion or characteristic. It provides increased accuracy and versatility in expressing an idea, mood, or interest as intended, in a face-to-face or written form.
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